Jeane Kirkpatrick quotes

Americans need to face the truth about themselves, no matter how pleasant it is. (Jeane Kirkpatrick)
Vietnam presumably taught us that the United States could not serve as the world's policeman; it should also have taught us the dangers of trying to be the world's midwife to democracy when the birth is scheduled to take place under conditions of guerrilla war. View quote
Jeane Kirkpatrick
The speed with which armies collapse, bureaucracies abdicate, and social structures dissolve once the autocrat is removed frequently surprises American Policy makers. View quote
Jeane Kirkpatrick
When Marxist dictators shoot their way into power in Central America, the San Francisco Democrats don't blame the guerrillas and their Soviet allies. They blame United States policies of 100 years ago. But then they always blame America first. View quote
Jeane Kirkpatrick
No idea holds greater sway in the minds of educated Americans that the belief that it is possible to democratize governments anytime and anywhere under any circumstances. View quote
Jeane Kirkpatrick
Decades, if not centuries are normally required for people to acquire the necessary disciplines and habits. (for democracy) In Britain, the road to (democratic government) took seven centuries to traverse. View quote
Jeane Kirkpatrick
Neither nature, experience, nor probability informs these lists of 'entitlements', which are subject to no constraints except those of the mind and appetite of their authors. View quote
Jeane Kirkpatrick
I was a woman in a man's world. I was a Democrat in a Republican administration. I was an intellectual in a world of bureaucrats. I talked differently. This may have made me a bit like an ink blot. View quote
Jeane Kirkpatrick
What takes place in the Security Council more closely resembles a mugging than either a political debate or an effort at problem-solving. View quote
Jeane Kirkpatrick
Truth, which is important to a scholar, has got to be concrete. And there is nothing more concrete than dealing with babies, burps and bottles, frogs and mud. View quote
Jeane Kirkpatrick
Democracy not only requires equality but also an unshakable conviction in the value of each person, who is then equal. (Jeane Kirkpatrick)
Russia is playing chess, while we are playing Monopoly. The only question is whether they will checkmate us before we bankrupt them. View quote
Jeane Kirkpatrick
And now, the American people, proud of our country, proud of our freedom, proud of ourselves, will reject the San Francisco Democrats and send Ronald Reagan back to the White House. View quote
Jeane Kirkpatrick
When our Marines, sent to Lebanon on a multinational peacekeeping mission with the consent of the United States Congress, were murdered in their sleep, the "blame America first crowd" didn't blame the terrorists who murdered the Marines, they blamed the United States. But then, they always blame America first.... The American people know better. View quote
Jeane Kirkpatrick
And I have no doubt that the American people generally believe the world is safer, and that we are safer, when we are stronger. View quote
Jeane Kirkpatrick
A government is not legitimate merely because it exists. View quote
Jeane Kirkpatrick
Democrats can't get elected unless things get worse-and things won't get worse unless they get elected. View quote
Jeane Kirkpatrick
I conclude that it is a fundamental mistake to think that salvation, justice, or virtue come through merely human institutions. View quote
Jeane Kirkpatrick
We have war when at least one of the parties to a conflict wants something more than it wants peace. View quote
Jeane Kirkpatrick
I think that it's always appropriate for Americans and for American foreign policy to make clear why we feel that self-government is most compatible with peace, the well-being of people, and human dignity. View quote
Jeane Kirkpatrick
I think that there is absolutely no free market in modern industrial states. (Jeane Kirkpatrick)
Because the miseries of traditional life are familiar, they are bearable to ordinary people who, growing up in the society, learn to cope, as children born to untouchables in India. View quote
Jeane Kirkpatrick
Solidarity was the movement that turned the direction of history, I think. View quote
Jeane Kirkpatrick
I always assume that democracy is the only good form of government, quite frankly, and democracy is always to be preferred. View quote
Jeane Kirkpatrick
A doctrine of class war seemed to provide a solution to the problem of poverty to people who know nothing about how wealth is created. View quote
Jeane Kirkpatrick